US embassy cable - 05MANAMA1325

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 MANAMA 001325 
 
SIPDIS 
 
STATE PASS USTR FOR LEWIS KARESH, JASON BUNTIN, AND AARON 
ROSENBERG 
DEPARTMENT OF LABOR FOR PETER ACCOLLA AND SUDHA HALEY 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/10/2015 
TAGS: ELAB, PREL, ETRD.BA 
SUBJECT: MINISTER OF LABOR SUPPORTS MORE LABOR REFORMS 
 
 
Classified By: Ambassador William T. Monroe for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d) 
. 
 
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Summary 
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1.  (C) Minister of Labor Dr. Majeed bin Mohsin Al Alawi 
expressed a strong commitment to tripartite cooperation and 
further labor reforms in Bahrain in a September 9 meeting 
with the Ambassador, Assistant U.S. Trade Representative for 
Labor Lewis Karesh, and U.S. Department of Labor officials 
Peter Accolla and Sudha Haley.  The Minister welcomed USG 
technical assistance to support labor reforms and workers' 
rights and said government, business, and labor are committed 
to capacity building and improving their effectiveness on 
labor issues.  End Summary. 
 
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Workers' Rights High Priority 
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2.  (C) Minister of Labor Dr. Majeed bin Mohsin Al Alawi met 
September 9 with the Ambassador, Assistant U.S. Trade 
Representative for Labor Lewis Karesh, U.S. Department of 
Labor Acting Director for the Office of Trade Agreement 
Implementation Peter Accolla, and U.S. Department of Labor 
Bureau of International Labor Affairs Senior Regional Advisor 
Sudha Haley.  Karesh explained to the minister that when 
Congress debates the U.S.-Bahrain Free Trade Agreement (FTA) 
this fall, labor issues in Bahrain will be studied carefully 
in Washington.  The Minister replied that the FTA was a great 
opportunity for both countries, and he hoped it would be 
ratified by the U.S. soon.  Al Alawi stressed that promoting 
worker rights is a high priority of the GOB. 
 
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Focus on Tripartite Negotiations 
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3.  (C) The Minister emphasized that the GOB is committed to 
consulting both labor and employers on any initiative that 
will affect them.  The recently-issued Ministerial Decree 
Number 9 (2005), which relieves union leaders of their 
regular work duties to give them ample time for union 
activities, was the result of a tripartite negotiation.  The 
new rules in Decree Number 9 were unprecedented in the 
region.  Al Alawi also mentioned that in drafting the new 
labor law that will be debated in parliament this fall, GOB 
officials met twice a week for two years with representatives 
of the General Federation of Bahrain Trade Unions (the 
Federation) and the Bahrain Chamber of Commerce and Industry 
(BCCI).  Karesh commented that in a meeting the day before, 
Federation members had complained that the GOB altered the 
tripartite text of the draft law.  The Minister explained 
that the final draft included minor changes that eliminated 
duplication and conflicts with other Bahraini laws. 
Federation and ministry representatives would meet September 
24 to discuss the issue. 
 
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Plans for Further Reform 
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4.  (C) Karesh noted that the Federation was also concerned 
that, under Bahraini law, public sector unions are not 
permitted.  The Minister acknowledged that the law is vague 
on the legality of public sector unions.  The Cabinet 
recently submitted to parliament legislative amendments that 
will clarify the law and give public sector workers full 
union rights.  He expected parliament to debate the 
amendments this fall.  Al Alawi recognized that Bahraini law 
is not fully compliant with ILO core labor standards because 
it forbids more than one union in a single enterprise.  He 
had submitted a memorandum to the Cabinet recommending that 
multiple unions be allowed, but stressed that the matter 
needs further discussion as both the Federation and the BCCI 
prefer the current rules on this issue. 
 
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Minister Welcomes Technical Cooperation from USG 
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5.  (C) The U.S. Department of Labor representatives told the 
Minister that the USG is ready to offer technical assistance 
to Bahrain to continue its labor reforms.  Al Alawi welcomed 
such support and hoped it would lead to strong, professional 
unions and enhanced tripartite cooperation.  The ministry had 
conducted a number of courses in the last few months to 
educate employers on union rights.  Al Alawi mentioned the 
important role that parliament plays in reforms, and 
commented that the Federation is slowly beginning to realize 
that it must engage parliamentarians to advance labor rights. 
 
 
MONROE